How to Write a Staff Manual ^{2nd Ed.}

Whatever the size of your organization, a staff manual is a key document for all your employees. As a first point of reference it helps avoid misunderstanding when questions arise on procedures, policies and conditions of employment. And with everyone receiving the samne information, you know that it can only improve administration and your organization's sense of identity.

So how do you go about putting it all together? Maybe you don't want to, and would be happier leaving the details to a solicitor or presonnel consultant. But whether you choose to go it alone or seek outside assistance, this cincise book should lay the groundwork and get you thinking about what should be in there, how you should say it and what not to say, which is just as important.

Exercises in drafting and honing your text give you ample scope for guided experimentation before you embark either on the real thing, or on an update of an existing manual. It's worth getting it right — your staff manual will be a lasting point of contact between you and your staff.

1. What is a Staff Manual?
• Why do you need a Staff Manual?
• What will this book do for you?
2. How Do You Know What to Tell Your Employees?
• Finding out what you need to say
• Using the checklist as an interviewing tool
• Interviewing the managers
• Using the checklist as a table of contents
• Thinking through the policies
3. Writing Policy Summaries
• Sample statement for a Staff Manual
• General organisation for your manual
• Exercise 1: Writing for clarity
• Exercise 2: What's wrong with this policy summary?
• Exercise 3: Test your knowledge
• Testing and verifying the contents
• Using your Staff Manual
• Action checklist for writing a new manual
4. A Specimen Staff Manual
• Subjects to consider for inclusion
• Specimen tables of contents
• Specimen entries for staff manuals
• Specimen index

A bit American, but it lives up to its title.